FECES. l8l 



(a) Chlorides. Acidify with nitric acid and add argentic 

 nitrate. 



(b) Phosphates. Acidify with nitric acid, add molybdic solution 

 and warm gently. 



(c) Sulphates. Acidify with hydrochloric acid, add barium 

 chloride and warm. 



15. Konto's Reaction for Indole. Rub up the stool with water 

 to form a thin paste. From this point the test is the same as for the 

 detection of indole in putrefaction mixtures (see page 169). 



1 6. Schmidt's Nuclei Test. This test serves as an aid to the 

 diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency. The test is founded upon 

 the theory that cell nuclei are digestible only in pancreatic juice, 

 and therefore that the appearance in the feces of such nuclei indi- 

 cates insufficiency of pancreatic secretion. The procedure is as 

 follows : Cubes of fresh beef about one-half centimeter square 

 are enclosed in small gauze bags and ingested with a test meal. 

 Subsequently the fecal mass resulting from this test-meal is exam- 

 ined, the bag opened and the condition of the enclosed residue de- 

 termined. Under normal conditions the nuclei would be digested. 

 Therefore if the nuclei are found to be for the most part undi- 

 gested, and the intervening period has been sufficient to permit of the 

 full activity of the pancreatic function (at least 6 hours), it may 

 be considered a sign of pancreatic insufficiency. 



It has been claimed by Steele that under certain conditions the 

 non-digestion of the nuclei may indicate a general lowering of the 

 digestive power rather than a true pancreatic insufficiency. 



